Christmas is coming !!!
Time flies and we’re already at the end of 2013…It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2013 and say hello to 2014 ! But before that there’s Christmas time ! A moment when family can gather ; a moment for children to receive gifts and overall a moment to think about religion and God.
Irish people are very proud to celebrate Christmas. It is a very important moment in the year and nobody in Ireland want to miss it. Ireland is a Catholic country where religion has a high importance for people. Christmas celebration in Ireland used to last at least two weeks until the 25th of December !
Let’s look for the different Christmas celebration for Irish people !
1. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve
The mass on midnight is the best moment to gather all family, friends or even unknow people all together in a same place. Any Church is so crowed for midnight mass on Christmas eve. When the bells ring, everybody hug themselves. This is very impressive !
2. Horses races on Saint Stephen’s day 
This is one of the oldest Irish tradition ! Go to horses races on St. Stephen’s day is become over years a tradition unmissable. Each year more than 20,000 people attend to horses races throughout Ireland. As for midnight mass, it’s a moment choosen to gather everybody as possible.
3. Christmas Day swim on Forty Foot, South Dublin
Irish people are very courageous ! Swimming on winter time is not a problem for them. If you would like to try to swim in freezing sea (temperature around 10C) and get unforgettable sensation, you are welcome ! People climbs on forty foot rock and after they dive !
Uncredible but so true…
4. Reading of James Joyce’s story
Story telling is kind of national sport in Ireland. Irish like so much story link to their country, to their culture, to their tradition…If you read one of the story of James Joyce, we’ll ensure you to have much success in Christmas time ! Actually, the story is called the « Dead », and one of the most famous James Joyce’s story. This short story tells a gathering between Dubliners’ partners during James Joyce has told a lot a story about banality and magic.
5. Wearing awful Christmas sweaters
Grandmothers or aunties used to offer very old sweaters to their children or grandchildren. The game after that is to swear these kind of sweater in public place. Sometimes this kind of clothes are very awful but as it is family’s gift we have to be proud to wear it. For example, one year a gentleman wore fake robins, bells and fairy lights all of one sweater.
Definitively, Ireland is the place to be to celebrate Christmas ! You’ll never get annoyed !!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Thomas Switalski
